Claw-bar.



F. G. WAGNER.

GLAW BAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

1 C T Va gner,

Wikuzooeo SHINGTON D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

FRANK C. WAGNER, 0F GRAMPIAN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAW-BAR.

Application filed September 20, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grampian, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Claw-Bars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to claw bars, and it has for its object to produce a claw bar which shall be especially adapted to extracting railroad spikes.

The particular object of the invention is to produce a claw bar of simple and improved construction having a movably supported member constituting a support on which the claw bar is fulcrumed in operation, enabling the spike to be extracted at a single movement of the bar or lever.

A further object of the invention is to so improve and simplify the construction of the bar as to form a seat over which the head of the spike may slide or move as the position of the claw bar is changed or shifted during the operation of extracting the spike.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of the lower part of a claw bar constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, showing the claw bar applied to the head of a spike for the purpose of extracting the same, dotted lines being used to indicate a subsequent position of the bar with the spike partly extracted. Fig. 4 is a. side elevation showing the bar supported on the movable fulcrum with the spike almost entirely extracted. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The bar or lever 1 is provided at its Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914. Serial No. 721,469.

lower end with an enlarged portion constituting a head 2, the checks or side portions of which, 3, extend laterally beyond the side faces of the bar 1 so as to constitute inclined shoulders or ofi sets 4. The base of the head portion is flat and is positioned substantially at right angles to the rear face of the bar so as to form a rectangular heel portion 16, as shown. The bar 1 is provided a short distance above the head 2 with a swelled portion 5 for the passage of a pivot member, such as a bolt 6 on which a yoke or bail 7 is pivotally supported, said yoke or bail being adapted to normally rest on the shoulders 4. The yoke or bail 7 may be constructed in any suitable manner, but it is preferably provided at its free end with a sharp edge 8 having a recess or concavity 9 between the ends thereof, whereby independent sharp spurs 10, 10 are formed, and on which the yoke, together with the bar, may rock during the operation of the device. The head portion 2 of the bar 1 is bifurcated, the two sides thereof being separated by a centrally disposed recess 11 forming independent side members orjaws 12, the opposed faces of which have beveled portions 13 that may be readily inserted beneath the head of a railway spike which has been driven in the customary manner. The jaws are also provided with vertically disposed shoulders or offsets l1 combining to form a seat that will support the head of the spike as the claw bar is being tilted in the act of extracting the spike, the shank or body of the spike being meanwhile accommodated in the space or recess between the jaws or side members.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing hereto annexed, the operation of the invention will be readily understood. While the claw bar is held in an approximately vertical position, the beveled portions 13 of the jaws are inserted beneath the head of the spike, which latter is indicated at 15. The claw bar is now tilted about the fulcrum which is formed by the heel 16 of the bar, thus partly lifting the spike or starting the latter. The spurs 10 of the yoke 7 will now engage the surface of the tie in which the spike is driven, thus causing the yoke to constitute a support for the bolt 6 which now constitutes the fulcrum about which the claw bar is further tilted. By such action the head will slide over the beveled portions 13 and operation, the yoke 7 is supported on the shoulders or offsets 4: in a position entirely clear of the surface on which the bar rests and which may be the top face of a railroad tie. The primary tilting movement of the claw bar about the fulcrum formed by the heel 16 will start the spike very readily and easily, due to the powerful leverage exerted, the bar 1 being obviously intended to be of the customary length, enabling it to be used by a man standing upright,while the distance between the fulcrum point 16 and the spikeengaging portion of the bar is comparatively very short. As soon as the spike has been started, the sharp engaging portions 10 of the yoke will engage the surface of the tie, and these portions will now constitute the fulcrum about which thebar is further rocked with the result of lifting the spike, the head of which will gradually slide over the beveled portions 13 and on to the shoulders 14% where the head becomes seated floplel of thil patent may be obtained for while the extracting operation is completed. This entire operation is accomplished by a single movement of the bar in one direction, it being unnecessary to shift the position in order that the position of the yoke may be shifted to bring it into operation. The

stress or pull on the spike is practically exerted longitudinally of the spike during the entire operation, and no rocking or working of the spike to and fro is needed. The spike when extracted will thus leave a clean hole, and the tie will not be unduly mutilated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new, is

A claw bar having a bifurcated head, the jaws of which are provided on their inner faces with beveled spike head engaging portions and with vertical shoulders or offsets, said head having a flat base formed substantially at right anglesto the rear face of the bar to produce a rectangular heel portion, in combination with a yoke pivoted on the bar above the head, said yoke having a sharp edge at its free end to produce a fulcrum on which it may rock, and supporting means on the bar whereby said yoke will be supported in a raised position when the fiat base of the head portion is in initial engagement with the surface of the body from which a spike is to be extracted, whereby rocking movement of the bar on the fulcrum formed by the heel will result in starting the spike and also in placing the sharp edge of the yoke in surface engaging position to form a fulcrum for continued rocking movement of the bar in one direction to complete the extracting of the spike. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK O. WAGNER.

Witnesses:

G. L. SMITH, J. L. HARTZFELD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

